Ship raising apparatus



28,1931} w. E. BAHR 1,816,759

7 I SHIP RAISING APPARATUS Filed Jan; 17, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l v A7 zLLLD INVENTOR.

uiziwrlzzizazn July 28, 1931. w, BAHR 1 1,816,759 SX- IIP RAISINGAPPARATUS Filed Jan. 17. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Q1173. I

July 28, 1931. w. E. BAHR SHIP RAISING APPARATUS FiledJan. 17, 1929 7Sheets-Sheet 3 'I-NVEN TOR.

1 9 ATTORNEYJZ J yvzs, 1931- w. E. BAHR 1,816,759

SHIP RAISING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 17, 1929' 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 28,1931. w, E, 'BAHR 1,816,759

SHIP RAI SING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1'7, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I@5@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 1 @GQQQQGQQQQQQQQQ INVENTOR v Q T 52 Q QQQzf'dWlfidil? Patented July 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE v WILLIAM E. BAHR, OFINDIANHEAD, MARYLAND SHIP RAISING APPARATUS Application filed January17, 1929. Serial No. 333,045.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shipraising apparatus and has for its primary object to provide asubmersible structure from which an oporator anchors the same adjacent asunken vessel, the submersible structure having apparatus for attachinghoist cables to the sunken vessel while the submersible structure isequipped with devices to permit certain movements thereof relative tothe sunken vessel for correctly positioning the same, such as forwardlyand rearwardly positioned propellers, water ballast devices for each endof the structure as well as gyroscopic mechanism to permit side tiltingor rolling motion of the submersible structure.

Another object of the invention is to prof vide a ship raising apparatuswherein a float or pontoon is equipped with cable hoists and anchorgrapples lowered by the cables for attachment to a sunken ship,'such asbeing interlockingly engaged with the walls of port holes and asubmersible structure having guide cables with which the grapple devicesare associated, the submersible structure carrying means manuallyoperable from within for positioning the grapple in engagement with thesunken vessel.

With the above and other objects in View that will become apparent asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed. 1

In the drawings Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view of thesubmersible structure of the ship raising apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the submersible structure with a part ofthe sunken vessel shown in section, illustrating the magnets for 5anchoring the submersible structure to the sunken vessel and the grappleor lifting device engaged with the sunken vessel;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a float or-pontoonwith a Windlass 59 carrying an anchor device attached to the vlongitudinal section;

sunken vessel, a part of the submersible structure and guide cable forthe grapples;

Figure 4 is a horizontal detail sectional view showing the grapplespartly projected through a port hole opening in the sunken vessel;

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional of the grapple illustratingthe socketed block 7 to receive a plunger rod from the submersiblestructure for forcing the grapple through a port hole or window;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the grapple showing theguide cables therefor; Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of. themechanism for positioning the grapple in the port hole opening and theplunger rod for breaking the glass of the port hole;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a similar structurecarrying a telescope and a periscope;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of a portion of thesubmersible structure showing an electro-magnet carried thereby andengaged with the sunken vessel for holding the submersible structurestationary and the mechanism for moving the electro-magnet;

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of the submersible structure withthe operating mechanism for the electro-magnet shown in Figure 12 is across-sectional view taken on line 1212 of Figure 11;

' Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13- 13 of Figure 14showing the lead to the switch board from a source of electric energy,the operating mechanism for the magnet, an air compressor and pump, anda water P p; I

Flgure 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view for thesubmersible structure showing the end ballastchambers and theintermediate compartment for the operators with the gyroscope therein;

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view of the submersible structureshowing the water pump and pipe lines leading to and from the ballastends;

} Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1616 of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l717 of Figure 14,showing the gyroscopic mechanism associated with the submersiblestructure; and

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1818 of Figure 17.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the submersiblestructure 1 is preferably in the form of a cylindrical casing havingtapered ends 2 and while the same may be constructed of any desired sizeand dimensions, it is believed that the same will be found to be morepractical to be of substantially eighty feet in length and sixteen feetin diameter. The upper side of the submersible structure 1 has attachingplates 3 fixed thereto to which hoisting cables 4 are anchored, thestructure being raised and lowered through the medium of the cables 4and further through the medium of ballast devices to be later described.A float or pontoon 5 that is broken away to show a motor driven windlass6 has a cable 7 wound on the Windlass, depending from the pontoon totravel around the sheave 8 on the s imken ship anchor device with theother end of the cable 7 extending upwardly to the'pontoon and suitablyanchored therein.

The grapple supported on the cable 7 for raising the sunken vessel isshown more clearly in Figures 3 to 7 and includes a hori-.

zontal arm 9 having openings in opposite ends thereof for the passage ofa looped guide cable 10 from the surface ship the lower end loop of theguide cables 10 passing around the sheave 11 upon brackets 12 carried bythe outer side wall of the submersible structure 1. Hinged closures 9apermit automatic separation of the cable 10 from the grapple. A pair ofupstanding bearings 13 on the horizontal arms 12 provide a journalbearing for the sheave 8, the grapple being threaded on the guide cables10 of the surface ship and lowered to the submersible structure 1. Ablock centrally depending from the horizontal arm 9 is socketed as at 14for purposes presently to appear, while a laterally directed arm 15projects from the horizontal arm 9. Thearm 15 is bifurcated as at 16 andhas a latch head 17 pivotally mounted as at 18 in the outer end thereof.The outer end of the arm 15 inwardly of the bearing 18 is provided witha side pocket 19 in which a coiled spring 20 is seated, and when thelatch head 17 is longitudinally disposed, substantially as illustratedin Figure 4, one side of the latch head 17- engages the spring to holdthe same under compression. A collar 21 is slidable upon the arm 15 andnormally surrounds one end of the latch head 17 as shown in Figure 4.The grapple is lowered into alignment with the port hole 22 in the sidewall 23 of the sunken vessel and by devices to be later described, theprojecting end of the latch head 17 is forced through the port hole.During this movement, the ring 21 is moved into engagement with the sidewall 23 of the sunken vessel and continued movement of the grapplecauses the arm 15 to be projected through said opening while the collar21 is retained at the outer side of the sunken vessel and when the innerend of the latch head is released from the collar 21, the spring 20moves the latch 17 to a right angle position relative to the arm 15 e asshown in Figure 5 to secure the grapple to the sunken vessel.

The devices for moving the grapple into the port hole 22 are shown indetail in Figure 8, the devices projecting from and being operable fromwithin the submersible structure 1. A bracket plate 24 projects inwardlyfrom the side wall of the submersible structure that is illustrated asbeing of double wall construction and supports ,a cylindrical body 25upon its upper side, said cylindrical body 25 having a longitudinalaxial bore 26 through which a tubular shaft 27 is both slidable androtatable, said shaft being provided upon a section thereof with screwthreads 28. The forward end of the tubular shaft 27 passes through a'stufling box 29 in the side wall of the submersible structure and atits outer projecting end is provided with a laterally offset plungerhead 30. A bevel gear 31 is engaged with the threads 28 on the tubularshaft 27 and meshes with the bevel pinion 32 on the stub shaft 33projecting laterally from the forward end of the cylindrical body 25, anangle bracket 34 having one end forming a bearing for the outer end ofthe shaft 33 and its other end forming a bearing for the tubular shaft27. The hand wheel 35 fixed to.the shaft 33 effects rotation of thegears 32 and 31 and the tubular shaft 27 longitudinally of thecylindrical body 25. A pair of rear end opening sockets 36 arediametrically formed in the cylindrical body 25 into which guide rods 37from the bracket plate 38 extends while a cylindrical bearing 39 carriedby the bracket plate 38 supports the tubular shaft 27 and extends intothe bore 26 of the cylindrical body 25. A bevel gear 40 is fixed to therear projecting end of the tubular shaft 27 as shown in Figure 8 and isengaged by the bevel pinion 41 upon the shaft 42 journaled in the angleiron extension of the bracket 38, the hand wheel 43 effecting rotationof the pinion and gear 41 and 40 and the tubular shaft 27. A striking orplunger rod 44 extends through the tubular shaft 27 and projects fromopposite ends thereof. When the grapple is aligned with a port hole 22of a sunken vessel, the

striking or plunger rod 44 is forcibly proj ected by percussive contactwith its inner end to break the window of the port hole. The

40 and 41 for rotating the tubular shaft 27 to position the plunger head30 in direct alignment with the block socket 14. The

tubular shaft 27 is then forwardly projected by the hand wheel to movethe latch head 17 through the port hole22. When the tubular shaft 27 isforwardly projected by the gear devices 31 and 32, the gears and41remain idle, but move forwardly with the bracket 38 and rods 37 thatmove into the sockets 36, the gears 31 and 32 remain idle duringoperation of the gears 40 d 41 for rotating the tubular shaft 37.

Substantially the same mechanism described above is illustrated inFigure 9 except that the tubular shaft 27a is of larger diameter tohouse a telescope and periscope 45 and46, respectively, the telescope 45being straight from end to end, while the projecting end of theperiscope 46 is angularly directed as at 47 for lateral vision. The samegear mechanism is associated with the tubular shaft 27a for forwardlyprojecting the telescope and periscope 45 and 46 and for rotating thetubular shaft 27 to dispose the angle end 47 of the periscope 46 indiflerent positions.

Devices are carried by the submersible structure for anchoring the samerelative to the sunken vessel while operating the grapples abovedescribed and include a pair of electro-magnets 48 shown in" Figures 2and 1O -to 12, the magnets being energized through the medium ofelectric conductors 49 extending from a source of supply on the surfaceship, each magnet being carried by a shaft 50 havingan angle end 51connected thereto. The operating mechanism of the shaft 50 is similar tothe operating mechanism for the telescope and periscope 45 and 46 andthe tubular shafts 27 and 27a as shown in Figures 8 and 9, it beingunderstood that when the electromagnets 48 are electro-magneticallyconnected with the sunken vessel 23, the shaft 50 may be rotated in thedesired direction to efiect slight raising or lowering movement ofeither end of the submersible structure 1 for aligning the grapple shownin Figure 5 with the port hole 22. The shafts 50 are moved inwardly andoutwardly of the submersible structure for positioning the latter adesired distance a from the sunken vessel and such shafts are rotatablefor purposes previously mentioned. The submersible structure 1 includingthe conical ends 2 are of double wall construe tion comprising inner andouter walls 52 and 53 which are held separated, and braced byintervening reinforcing members and said structure embodies anintermediate or central mechanism and operators compartment 54 as shownin Figure 14, end ballast chambers 55 adjacent the conical ends 2, while'the latter contain electric motors 56 controlled by one of the switchesupon the board 57 shown in Figure 13 for operating the propellers 58shown in Figuresl and 2, the propeller 58 being. operated to causelongitudinal shifting movement of the submersible structure relative tothe sunken vessel. The intermediate compartment 54 houses the-.operating mechanism for the grapples adapted for attachment to thesunken vessel, the operating devices for the periscopes and theoperating devices for the electro-magnets, the intermediate oompartmentalso housing gyroscopic mechanism, and air and water pumps for theballast chambers 55.

Each ballast chamber 55 is of water and airtight construction alfordedby the spaced disk walls 59, one wall adjacent the compartment 54 andthe other wall adjacent the conical end 2, while tubes 60 extendingbetween the walls 59 afford a passage for air between the compartment'54and the conical end. A pair of enlarged tubes 61 arranged at the upperends of the disk plates 59 afford passage for' an operator to pass fromthe compartment 54 into the conical end 2 for necessary repair of'themotors 56. or for other purposes, step ladders 62 affording access tothe tubes 61. The inner ends of the tubes 61 are closed by the hingedcovers 63 opening into the intermediate compartment 54. l I

A platform or floor 64 is mounted in the intermediate compartment 54'and supports an electric motor 65 controlled in its operation from theswitch board 57 for'o crating the air pump 66,- one pipe 67 extendingfrom the air pump 66'to one end ballast chamber 55 while the other pipe68 from the pump 66 "extends to the other ballast chamber at theopposite end of the submersible structure, each of said pipes 67 and 68being valve controlled as at 69. The ballast chambers'55 can either befilled or emptied of air for urposes of leveling the structure, and saidallast chambers 55 may be filled with air to I add buoyancy to thesubmersible structure when it is desired to raise the same. The chambers55 may have water ballast supplied 7 7 and communicate with the inletpipe 72 of the pump 71 inwardly of the valve 72a, while the outlet pipe73 of the pump 71 has an exhaust pipe 78 valve controlled as at 79extending through the side walls of the submersible structure. Water maybe admitted to the ballast chambers 55 to add weight to the submersiblestructure during its lowering movement or submersion and to fill theballast chambers with water, the valves 77 and 79 are closed and thevalves 72a and opened, permitting water to be drawn into the inlet pipe72 through the pump 71, pipe 73 and branch extensions 74 to the ballastchambers. When it is desired to exhaust water from the ballast chambers55, the valves 72a and 75 are closed andvthe valves 77 and 79 opened,water being drawn by the pump 71 through the pipes 76 to the inet pipe72 for the pump inwardly of the valve 72a, through the pipe 7 3 andoutlet pipe 78.

Gyroscopic mechanism is arranged in the intermediate compartment 54 ofthe submersible structure and is operated to cause the structure toassume an' even keel or upight position should the same be resting onone side or listing, when lowered to position adjacent the sunkenvessel, and such mechanism is shown more clearly in Figures 14, 17 and18. The gyroscopic mechanism comprises a ring 80 rotatable in thesubmersible structure and guided by the angle flanges 81 secured to theinner wall 52 and carrying radial spider arms 82 supporting at theirinner adjacent ends, a casing 83 housing a gyroscopic mechanismincluding the weighted wheel, the latter being rotated by the motor 84supported on one of the spider arms 82 and controlled from the switchboard 57. An internal ring gear 85 is secured as at 85a to the innerwall 52 of the submersible structure adjacent the frame ring 80 and isengaged by the pinion 86 on the stub shaft 87 journaled at one end in aspider arm 82 of the gyroscopic ring 80 as shown in Figure 18 while itsother end is journaled in the bracket 88 extending angularly from saidframe arm. A worm wheel 89 is keyed to the stub shaft 87 adjacent thegyroscopic ring and is engaged by the worm shaft 90 j ournaled in thebracket 88, the crank handle 91 efiecting rotation of the worm shaft 90.Should the submersible structure list to either side, the gear unit isoperated to shift the ring 80 and the gyroscopic mechanism carriedthereby to'the desired angular position, this movement beingaccomplished by operating the worm shaft 90 and worm wheel 89 by thecrank handle 91, the pinion 86 rolling over the ring gear 85, the saidparts being so retained in their shifted position by the worm gearmechanism and in this position being locked to the submersible structureby the pinion 86 and ring gear 85. The gyroscopic mechanism is thenoperated by the motor 84 and as the same moves to a vertical position,the submersible structure is laterally shifted therewith. This mechanismis also utilized to shift the submersible structure for positioning theplunger hood 30 of the tubular shaft 27 and plunger rod 44 associatedwith said tubular shaft directly in alignment with a port hole of asunken vessel, as well as positioning the electromagnet 48 for contactwith the sunken vessel.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believedthat the construction and operation thereof, will at once be apparent,it being observed that the operators gain entrance to the intermediatecompartment 54 through the hatch hole 96 in the upper side of thecompartment that is closed by the hinged cover 97. The lifting orgrappling devices for the sunken vessel have the cable 7 from theWindlass 6 placed upon the sheave 8 and the guide cables 10 from thesurface ship to the submersible structure are threaded through the endsof the horizontal arms 9 of the grapple and retained therein by thehinged closure 9a. When the submersible structure 1 is lowered by thecables 4, depending from the surface ship, the guide cables 10 are alsospent outwardly and hold the grapple positioned adjacent the side wallsof the submersible structure, the Windlass 6 unwinding to permitlowering movement of the grapple with the submersible structure. Theperiscopes 45 and 46 are then used for locating port holes in a sunkenvessel and are capable of adjustment in a manner before described, thegyroscopic mechanism being capable of operation for securing directalignment of the positioning apparatus for the grapple in directalignment therewith. The electro-magnets 48 are then forwardly projectedby operating the shafts 50 and minor adjustments are procured byrotating the shaft 50 for slightlyshifting the electro-magnets relativeto the sunken vessel, the electro-magnets operating for hold-' ing thesubmersible structure rigidly positioned. Suitable percussive force isthen applied to the striking rod 44 for projecting the forward endthereof through the glass window of a port hole and the plunger head 30upon the tubular shaft 27 is then engaged in the block socket 14 of thegrapple and upon forward projection of the tubular shaft 27 the latchhead 17 of the grapple is moved through the port hole 22 of the sunkenvessel 23. The collar 21 is disengaged from the inner end of thetensione'dlatch head upon complete projection thereof, through the porthole 22, the spring 20 moving the latch head to a right-angular positionrelative to the arm 15 to extend across the port hole 22 for locking thegrapple to the sunken vessel. The guide lines 10 are then disengagedfrom the grapple by moving the submersible structure away from thesunken vessel by automatically opening the closures 9a, and anothergrapple may be placed on the guide cables 10 and lowered to thesubmersible structure. The Windlass 6 is motor driven as indicated inFigure 3 and after the desired number of grapples have been attached tothe sunken vessel, the windlasses are operated for raising the vessel.

While there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments ofthe present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minorchanges may be made therein without-departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as claimed, it being understood that equipmentcharacteristic of apparatus of this kind is to be employed, such as atelephone in the operators compartment for communicating information tothe surface ship;

I claim:

for rotating the same.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM E. BAHR.

1. In apparatus of the character described, I

a grapple comprising a cable suspended block, an arm carried by theblock, a latch head pivoted intermediate its ends on the outer end ofthe arm, a spring for projecting the head at right angles to the arm, acollar slidable on the arm for retaining the latch head inoperativelypositioned and parallel with the arm and a rotatable and longitudinallyshiftable member adapted to beengaged with the block for moving the sameinto operative positioma percussive element carried by said member, themember being of tubular form and the percussive element being slidabletherein.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a grapple comprising acablev suspended block, an arm carried by the block, a latch headpivoted intermediate its ends on the outer end of the arm, a spring forprojecting the head at right angles to the arm, a collar slidable on thearm for retaining thelatch head inoperatively positioned and parallelwith the arm and a rotatable and longitudinally shiftable member adaptedto be engagedwith the block for moving the same into operative position,a percussive element carried by said member, the member being of tubularform and the percussive element being slidable therein, said tubularmember being externally threaded intermediate its ends and a drivinggear engaged with the threaded portion of the tubular member forshifting the same longitudinally.

3. In apparatus of the character described a grapple comprising a cablesuspended block, an arm carried by the block, a latch head pivotedintermediate its ends on the outer end of the arm, a spring forprojecting the head at right angles to the arm, a collar slidable on thearm for retaining the latch head inoperatively positioned and parallelwith the arm and a rotatable and lon 'tudinally shiftable memberadaptedto 0 en-

